Lemon Curd & Murder

by Susan Gillard

  Heather nodded, but her mind was wandering.

  “What’s that look for?” asked Amy. “Ryan said it was just a robbery, right? This isn’t a murder case?”

  “I’m certainly hoping it doesn’t turn into one,” Heather said.

  However, when her phone rang again, and she saw it was Ryan's number, she knew that it wouldn't be the case.

  The Crime Scene

  The next morning, Heather and Amy arrived at the crime scene with Ryan and Detective Peters. At first, Heather had wanted to rush to the crime scene that night after Ryan called so she could help immediately. However, she realized that with Jamie still at work and Eva and Leila heading to bed early, she didn't have a babysitter for Lilly. She wouldn't leave her daughter home alone - especially when there was a killer on the loose! However, she was still feeling a little guilty about not being there right when the case began.

  When Ryan told her about the way the victim was found, though, Heather had to admit that she was glad that she didn't see the body.

  “He was stabbed,” Ryan explained. “With one of the pirate swords that were on display here.”

  "I'm glad we didn't see the body,” Amy said, echoing Heather’s sentiments. “I hate stabbings. And I might not have been able to keep up my New Year’s Resolution not to scream when I see a dead body. I’ve been doing so well with it so far.”

  “And you met the victim?” Detective Peters asked, taking out his notebook. He was a young detective who was eager to solve cases but was also still learning to trust his instincts.

  "Yes," Heather said, as he wrote it down. "We met Professor Wattleson yesterday. I’m sorry to say that he didn’t make a great impression on us, but we never wished this on him.”

  “It looks like he arrived in Key West yesterday,” Peters said.

  “Yes. The local reporter Hope Penwell met him and was showing him around before he came to the museum,” Heather said. “He was in town for The Cat’s Claw Museum anniversary celebration.”

  "I'm not sure what type of celebration it's going to be," Amy said. "With their expert murdered and having all their treasure stolen.”

  “Was everything stolen?” Heather asked, looking around the museum.

  There were definite signs of a break in. There were shards of glass all over the floor. One of the wooden casks used for seating outside had been thrown through a window. The glass display cases that had held the gold coins and the golden cat statue were also broken. They were emptied of their treasures and now held only broken glass.

  “The owner, Donna Sanders, is going to get us a complete inventory of everything that was in the museum,” Ryan said. “However, on first inspection, it’s clear that the most valuable pieces have been taken.”

  “The coins and golden cat statue?” said Heather, seeking confirmation.

  “That’s right,” said Ryan.

  “We did find one gold coin left behind,” Detective Peters said “It looks like it was dropped. We found it over by that display case.”

  Heather moved away from the displays cases in the back that only the day before had been holding pirate's treasure. She approached the case that Detective Peters was indicating toward with his hand. It was also broken.

  “This used to hold a pirate sword, didn’t it?” Heather asked.

  “It did yesterday,” Amy agreed.

  "The murder weapon?" Heather asked, turning to Ryan.

  He nodded. “The killer took the sword from here and stabbed Professor Wattleson in the back with it.”

  “Any physical evidence so far?” asked Heather.

  “No fingerprints on the sword, and unfortunately the killer didn’t cut himself on any of the glass,” said Ryan.

  “But there are still a lot of glass fragments here,” Detective Peters said. “I’m going to be going through them and seeing if there are any fingerprints left on the larger pieces.”

  "A real glassy project," Amy joked.

  "So, what do you think happened?" Heather asked. "Professor Wattleson interrupted the robber and was killed?"

  “That’s what it looks like so far,” Ryan said. “Donna Sanders told us that the professor was planning on working late at the museum. She locked up before she left, and Professor Wattleson would just have to reset the alarm on his way out."

  “We believe he was working in the office in the back,” said Detective Peters, pointing to an open door. “He had his briefcase open there.”

  “The thief went to the front of the museum and broke the window,” said Ryan. “He started pilfering the treasure, and Professor Wattleson came out to investigate. The thief panicked and decided to kill him. He found the nearest weapon: the sword. And he used it to silence the professor. Then the thief grabbed the loot and headed out the window.”

  “Dropping only one coin,” continued Heather. “That does make sense.”

  “Professor Wattleson’s body was found here,” Ryan said. “In the main museum area but close to the office. He most likely was trying to run away from the thief and back to the office, but didn’t make it.”

  "The security alarm sounded at eleven nineteen,” Detective Peters said. “The murder must have happened right around that time.”

  "So, we need to find out who our thief is and then we’ll find our killer,” said Heather.

  “How many people knew about the treasure here at the museum?” asked Amy.

  “The museum has been open for a year,” Heather said.

  “And finding that cat statue was in the papers at the time it was discovered,” Peters said. “I remember reading about it. You don’t always equate cat statues and pirates. It stuck in my mind.”

  “But the museum has been doing a publicity push for their one year anniversary,” Heather said. “Someone could have been reminded of the treasure here recently.”

  “What’s our next step?” Amy asked.

  “We’ll check nearby pawn shops and online auctions to make sure that no one is attempting to sell what was stolen,” Ryan said.

  “But if the robber is waiting until things quiet die down until he tries to sell it?” asked Amy.

  “We’ll also canvass the area to see if anyone in the neighborhood noticed someone acting suspiciously. It's possible that the robber was casing the museum earlier this week,” said Ryan.

  “I just thought of something,” Heather said. “I already know someone who was very interested in this treasure. Somebody with a shady outlook on the law.”

  Big CC

  “Is this really necessary?” Big CC asked. “Couldn’t we have met at the taco restaurant again?”

  “Why?” asked Amy. “You want some more of those jalapeno poppers?”

  Perhaps because the memory of the snack was so spicy, Big CC reached for the glass of water that was provided for him in the interrogation room. He gulped it all down.

  “We need to talk to you about something serious,” Heather said. “And we think that this is the only place where you will take things seriously.”

  However, at that moment Chief Chet entered the interrogation room to join the four investigators. Chief Chet was an officer who cared about the law and about his island home. However, he was also one of the most laid-back people Heather had ever met. He even tried to have a hammock installed in his office. He also had a permanent blind spot for the trouble that his little brother could get into.

  “Back again, Clarence?” Chief Chet asked.

  “Chet, how many times do I have to tell you? It’s Big CC now.”

  “You can tell me a million times,” Chief Chet chuckled. “But you’ll always be Clarence to me. Unless, of course, you want me to tell them what your nickname as a kid was.”

  “No!” Big CC said.

  “What is it?” asked Amy.

  “It doesn’t matter,” Big CC said.

  “Oh, I think it does,” said Amy. “In fact, I think it might be vitally important to a case that we’re working on and might be the clue that closes it.”

&
nbsp; “I don’t see how that could be,” Chief Chet said, frowning. “It was only---“

  “A stupid nickname as a kid. Not a cool one like I have now.”

  “Please tell what it is,” said Amy.

  Chief Chet instead decided to turn to Ryan.

  “So, what is Clarence in for today? Is he a witness to a crime?”

  “Possibly,” Ryan said.

  “It’s funny how often Clarence is a witness these days,” Chief Chet said with a laugh.

  “Yes. Funny,” said Heather.

  “It’s almost like he’s at the scene of many crimes,” Amy muttered. “I wonder how that could be.”

  Ryan jumped in quickly. “Based on something he told Heather and Amy yesterday, we think he might have some information that could be useful to our case.”

  Chief Chet nodded. “Clarence, do your best to help my investigators.”

  “I always do,” Big CC said angelically.

  “That’s right,” said the chief. “But I have to admit that I don’t like seeing you in this interrogation room so much. People might start to think that you’re involved in trouble. I know that it’s all behind you now. But not everyone knows you like I do.”

  With that, Chief Chet left them to conduct their questioning. Amy took out her tablet to take notes on the proceedings. However, when Heather looked over her shoulder, she could see that she was also writing up a list of potential nicknames that could have belonged to Big CC as a child.

  "So, what is this all about?" Big CC asked. "You said it was about something I said yesterday, so I'm guessing it has something to do with The Cat's Claw treasure. Did something happen with the diver Greg Rowell? Did he say I was harassing him? The incident with his car was not my fault. Not really. And it happened at least four months ago.”

  “What happened to his car?” Detective Peters asked.

  “Just a broken windshield. It must have been a bird that flew into it,” said Big CC. “And some graffiti. It must have been some island teens who decided that was funny.”

  “What did the graffiti say?” asked Heather.

  “Tell me where the treasure is,” Big CC said. “But this was a long time ago. What’s going on today?”

  “Oh, just a robbery and murder,” said Amy.

  “Murder?” asked Big CC. “You know that I’d never be involved in one of those. You know that, right, Miguel?”

  Detective Peters said evenly, “I wouldn’t want to think so, Big CC. But it doesn’t look like a planned murder. It looks like the robber panicked. I have known you to panic. That’s where your old nickname used to come from.”

  “Chet told you my nickname? Traitor.”

  “Well, I’ve worked with him for quite a few years,” Detective Peters said.

  “You know the nickname?” Amy asked. “You have to tell me.”

  “Let’s, please, focus on the crime,” said Heather. “A man is dead.”

  "Look. I didn’t have anything to do with it,” Big CC said. “I might have been annoyed with Greg Rowell, but I wouldn’t kill him.”

  “Why do you keep talking about Greg Rowell?” asked Heather.

  “Because he’s the diver I was complaining about yesterday,” said Big CC. “Why? Is it someone else who is dead?”

  “Professor Ronald Wattleson,” said Ryan. “He was at The Cat’s Claw Museum last night when it was robbed and he was murdered.”

  “I don’t know any professor with that name,” said Big CC. “In fact, I don’t think I know any professors. I don’t really hang out with those types of people.”

  “You didn’t have to know the victim to kill him,” said Ryan. “He was just at the location that you tried to rob.”

  “I am not a robber,” Big CC said, indignantly.

  “Oh yeah?” asked Amy. “What about that watch you’re wearing?”

  “I told you. It’s an heirloom from my dear deceased uncle.”

  “Yesterday you said it was from your granny,” said Heather.

  “I have a complicated family. A lot of people look alike.”

  “Where were you last night around eleven p.m.?” asked Ryan.

  “Great question. I like this question,” Big CC said. “Last night I was with Chelsea and Cameron.”

  “Who are they?” asked Amy.

  “Chief Chet’s kids,” said Peters.

  "I was being Uncle Big CC and babysitting last night. Chet and Kelly came home around ten thirty, and we talked for about an hour. They told me about the movie they just saw, and I told them how I taught the kids how to play Texas Hold ‘Em."

  “They must have been pleased about that,” said Amy.

  "We were just playing for peanuts," said Big CC. "Literally. We didn't have any jellybeans, and I didn't want to take the kids' money."

  "You might not have been the robber, but you might know who was," said Heather. "You were very interested in The Cat's Claw treasure."

  “It was interesting,” Big CC said, shrugging it off.

  “And you told us you know people,” Heather said as a compliment. “I bet you know lots of people on the island.”

  “That I do,” Big CC said, smiling.

  “You must know someone else who was as interested in the treasure as you were,” said Heather. “Maybe that person is involved?”

  “I don’t think I know anything,” said Big CC.

  “A person was killed,” Heather reminded him.

  Big CC was silent.

  “What if we told your brother about that heirloom on your wrist?” asked Amy.

  He still wasn't talking.

  “You don’t want Detective Peters to tell Amy what your nickname was, do you?” asked Ryan.

  “Fine,” said Big CC. “I don’t think he’s involved, but he was really interested in the golden cat and the treasure. He was going to be my financial partner in sending another dive down once we learned the location of the wreck. His name is Treasure Tom.”

  Treasure Tom

  “What treasure can I help you find today?”

  “It’s funny you should use that phrase,” said Amy.

  The investigators had followed Big CC’s tip and found Treasure Tom at his place of business. It was a pawn shop and collectibles store called Treasure Aisles. As they made their way to the register that Treasure Tom was standing behind, Heather looked around.

  Treasure Aisles was full of a variety of goods. There was everything from antique typewriters and baseball cards to beach balls and samurai swords. In display cases close to where Treasure Tom stood were coins and jewelry.

  “Are you looking for something pretty to get your girls?” asked Treasure Tom.

  Amy laughed out loud. Heather and Ryan certainly looked like a couple, but Amy was older than the other young detective.

  "We're looking for some gold coins,” Ryan said.

  "I have a lovely display here," Treasure Tom said, indicating to his nearby wares.

  "You know what I would really love to find?” asked Heather. “Is a really special cat statue. I’m such a fan of cats. Maybe something golden?”

  “It sounds like you’re a fan of The Cat’s Claw treasure,” said Treasure Tom. “I am too. Unfortunately, I don’t have any replica statues to sell. I hope to someday though.”

  “Do you know where the original statue is right now?” asked Ryan.

  "There's a museum in town dedicated to the lost ship. They have it on display. Unfortunately, it stays behind glass. They won’t let you get a closer look or touch it.”

  “I’m afraid that the statue is no longer on display there,” said Ryan. “But it’s because of the museum that we’ve come. I’m Detective Shepherd, and this is Detective Peters from the Key West Police. These are private investigators Heather Shepherd and Amy Givens.”

  “Something terrible must have happened if all of you are in my shop now.”

  "The Cat's Claw Museum was robbed last night, and a man was killed," said Ryan.

  Treasure Tom sat down. “Robbed? Yo
u mean the treasure was stolen? All of it? The golden cat statute?”

  “That’s right,” said Heather.

  “Then I’ll never get a chance to examine it,” he said, sadly.

  “You just said it was on display at the museum,” said Peters.

  “Yes,” Treasure Tom said. “But Donna Sanders never let me take it out of the case and examine it. It was like she didn’t trust me.”

  “Why did you want to touch it?” asked Heather.

  “Because it was solid gold?” offered Amy.

  "Because I wanted to do my own authentication," said Treasure Tom. "I was interested in the treasure for so long that I thought I could do a good job. I am an expert on antiques. But she didn't trust my opinion because I didn't have a fancy title with my name. She got it authenticated by some doctor."

  “That must have been frustrating,” said Heather.

  “Oh. It was,” said Treasure Tom. “But not as frustrating as that diver Greg Rowell. He refused to tell anyone where he found the treasure.”

  "You wanted to find the rest of it?" Heather prompted.

  “That’s right,” Treasure Tom agreed. “My friend Big CC and I wanted to finance another dive to retrieve the rest of the treasure. We were sure there were more gold coins to be found. We also wanted to raise pieces of the ship. We wanted to find out more about the story too. Perhaps we could have found out what the ship’s original name was and where it was heading. Maybe we could have found out more about the crew. It’s a piece of history down there that should be explored.”

  “But the diver wouldn’t tell you its location,” said Heather.

  “Exactly.”

  “But why?” asked Heather. “Wouldn’t it have been good for him if more of the ship was recovered?”

  “I have two ideas about why he would never tell us,” said Treasure Tom conspiratorially. “One is that he wanted to go down by himself again. He made a good amount of money and became a local legend for a while when he found the treasure the first time. I think maybe he wanted to recreate it, and not share the profits with anyone else.”